PHOENIX – Late last season, A’s outfielder Travis Buck and first baseman Dan Johnson “got called into the principal’s office,” as Johnson puts it.

The purpose of the meeting in Manager Bob Geren’s office was to discuss off-season conditioning plans for the players, and General Manager Billy Beane made a suggestion that nearly floored Buck: yoga.

“You gotta be kidding me,” Buck initially thought. But with Beane, Geren and assistant G.M. David Forst all in the room, the rookie figured it was best to show some enthusiasm for the idea.

“I’m not in the position where I’d say, ‘Nah, I don’t think so,’ ” Buck recalled with a smile.

The players were still trying to figure out what yoga and baseball have in common when they began taking yoga classes together in Chandler, Ariz.

“I gave it a shot with Dan, and we got addicted,” Buck said.

Yoga combines exercise, breathing techniques and meditation that is said to promote both physical and mental well-being.

Both players were quickly sold on it, to the point that Buck said he plans to incorporate yoga into his pregame routine this season.

Buck and Johnson say their flexibility has increased greatly, which could help prevent injuries. Last year, Buck suffered from an assortment of ailments, including strained hamstrings. Johnson missed nearly all of April because of a torn labrum in his left hip.

When the two players showed up for their first class, “I thought I’d stick out like a sore thumb, because I can’t stretch at all,” Johnson said.

They learned that being a professional athlete doesn’t count for much during a yoga workout, in which a person does various stretches and holds certain poses for a long time.

“It was just me and Dan and a lot of old women, and it’s like, ‘What are we doing here?’ ” Buck said. “(But) it kind of puts you in your place. A lot of the stuff we couldn’t really do well. Then you see older women doing it with no problem.”

A’s infielder Jack Hannahan said he has incorporated yoga in his off-season routine since he tore a hamstring three years ago.

Beane’s wife, Tara, is a yoga instructor, which inspired the G.M. to approach Buck and Johnson about trying it.

“Knowing some of the issues they were having, it seemed like that would be a great alternative,” Beane said. “I spent years trying to get strong and my body paid for it. My shoulders are messed up. I wish I would have done (yoga) as a player.”

Beane said Wednesday that he had no idea if Buck and Johnson would follow through on his yoga suggestion.

“I thought at the time they were humoring me by saying, ‘Oh sure, I’ll do this,’ ” Beane said. “So the fact that they have and that they’ve enjoyed it is great.”

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